“As I mentioned earlier LINK, I observed this Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus) fruit feeding.
“It had been raining for 2 hours and when it stopped the birds were hungry and we observed a number of mixed-foraging parties.
“One mixed-foraging party comprised this male Lesser Yellownape with a pair of Little Cuckoo-doves (Macropygia ruficeps), 6-7 Silver-eared Mesias (Leiothrix argentauris), 2 female Yellow-rumped Flycatchers (Ficedula zanthopygia), 1 Asian Brown Flycatcher (Muscicapa dauurica), 1 Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush (Garrulax mitratus), and others.
“Two observations here:
1. Well 1999 states ‘Loners join mixed-species flocks of foraging passerines, in which L.L. Short only saw females, suggesting a possible behavioural divergence between sexes.’ I can now say that males also join mixed-foraging parties.
2. I saw the bird take 4-5 fruit in quick succession. Unfortunately all were seen in dense canopy and images blurred by brunches in front. I have attached a composite showing this fruit that all these birds were feeding on. The trees are 7-8 meters high with wide spreading branches. Berries are red-purple when ripe.
“As supportive evidence:
a. Vijay Mohan Raj has imaged the woodpecker feeding on fruit LINK.
b. Another possible episode here by Shyam Ghate LINK
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
1st October 2014
Location: 1,600m ASL, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
Habitat: Trail through mixed secondary and primary forest
